Ballet Philippines calls the 47th season WINGS and the opening salvo makes it soar high. Audiences will be captivated by a very wide range of pieces put together in one stage called FIREBIRD and Other Ballets running from August 19-21, 2016 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP Main Theater. There will be two shows each day of the weekend on the 20th and 21st at 2pm and 6pm.

Jemima Reyes is in the title role of Firebird. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

The headline among 4 different pieces is FIREBIRD with choreographer George Birkadze and elaborate costumes designed by Mark Higgins. Truth of it is every piece is able to stand on its own and is vastly different from one another.

There’s no dull moment. The accompanying music literally sets the tone for the performances. For example there’s the romance of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major for MOVING TWO, the energy shifts to the unique vocals, rhythmic string and singular violin of Iva Bittova’s NE NEH LEDEJ.

Pachelbel’s Canon in D

Victor Maguad & Jemima Reyes in MOVING TWO choreographed by Dwight Rodrigazo. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

MOVING TWO is choreographed by Dwight Rodrigazo and performed by Victor Maguad and Katrene San Miguel / Jemima Reyes. NE NEH LEDEJ is choreographed by David Campos. The performers for each piece is shared among dancers of Ballet Philippines such as Jean Marc Cordero, Gilliane Gequinto, Victor Maguad, Denise Parungao, Lester John Raguindin, Jessa Tangalin, Erl Sorilla, Monica Gana, Garry Corpuz and Sarah Anne Alejandro.

Garry Corpuz in NE NEH LEDEJ choreographed by David Campos. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

SHIFTING WAIT choreographed by Carlo Pacis also has JM Cordero and Jemima Reyes. SHIFTING won Outstanding Choreography for Modern Dance from Gawad Buhay in 2010. This version is expanded to six dancers from four. Along with the expanded cast there is experimentation in the pairings: female to female, male to male.

Denise Parungao and Garry Corpuz in SHIFTING WAIT choreographed by Carlo Pacis. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

How the dancers are able to change 180 degrees from one choreography to the next is a testament to their skill and versatility. Just like actors they have to inhabit moods and emotions in the characters they portray. They have to do this in less than a few minutes or as quickly as they can change costumes.

Denise Parungao and Mark Grantos in SHIFTING WAIT choreographed by Carlo Pacis. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

SHIFTING WAIT

Has the ingenious design of handles in the torso. This allows dancers to be lifted in different ways. Pulling them using the large handles can also be jarring not just for the dancer being dragged but also for audiences. When a jealous lover suddenly yanks on the handle away from another the effect can be heart rending. The lighting is one directional with high contrast which adds to the drama of movement. Carlo Pacis has to be given credit, there seems to be a more equal treatment between genders. Women also carry men instead of just the usual way.

SHIFTING WAIT choreographed by Carlo Pacis. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

Victor Maguad & Jemima Reyes in MOVING TWO choreographed by Dwight Rodrigazo. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

MOVING TWO

Highlights the synchronous movements of a pair in this case and Jemima Reyes and Victor Maguad. Jemima is also in the title role of Firebird while Vic is Koschei the Immortal. Conductor Olivier Ochanine has modified Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major into a slightly faster tempo. This gives the oft-used melody for weddings seem more exciting at the same time retaining its romance. Having the grand sound of all the instruments in the Philippine Philharmonic makes it a moving experience, enhancing the already powerful performance of Maguad and Reyes. Jemima is sometimes interchanged with Katrene San Miguel. The matched height and frame of Vic and Jemima adds to the fluidity and timed movements of the pair.

from left: MOVING TWO Choreographer Dwight Rodrigazo with dancer Victor Maguad. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

Victor Maguad & Jemima Reyes in MOVING TWO choreographed by Dwight Rodrigazo. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

NE NEH LEDEJ choreographed by David Campos; Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

NE NEH LEDEJ

This is also the title of the track by Czech singer and violinist Iva Bittova (not performed live unlike Philharmonic). She has a very unique style where she scats. There’s almost a beat box quality to the vocals creating rhythm along with plucking her violin string. Nearly the whole BP Company joins in this piece. The huge cast has a more powerful effect especially when they leap and bound at the same time. There’s a lot of athleticism as with all ballet but even more so here.

NE NEH LEDEJ choreographed by David Campos; Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

Iva Bittova

from right: Jemima Reyes (Firebird) and Cyril Fallar (Koschei). Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

FIREBIRD

This was a hit production for BP back in 1978 and featured the best dancers of the country. This version is reimagined from the spectacular costumes by Mark Higgins, the set by Ohm David. Russian trained, U.S. based choreographer George Birkadze also modified the main character of the FIREBIRD as well. Olivier Ochanine conducts Stravinsky’s FIREBIRD with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra fresh from their stint from Carnegie Hall.

For this all-star creative team FIREBIRD is a true labor of love. Mark Higgins said, “People were asking why don’t you sell the pieces (to make it feasible) no. 1 I don’t think I can repeat a head dress like this. 2. The whole point of doing this is I want to support the dancers well and put them in something lavish. There’s a real psychological effect from my clothing.” In 1998 Higgins collaborated wth Ballet Philippines in designing costumes for choreographer Agnes Locsin’s FOUR LAST SONGS. He has been co-director of SLIM’s Fashion and Art School since 2009.

Birkadze talked about their concept, “This Firebird is really from Asia. This Firebird is authentic, unique. Mark did such a great job, Ohm did such a great job. Everything in this firebird lets say 99% transmitted to the stage. Even the choreography, I studied Filipino dance, Indonesian dance we did deep research. Its not just choreography we’ve achieved something very special.”

Jemima Reyes is in the title role of Firebird. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

BP Artistic Director Paul Alexander Morales explained why they chose FIREBIRD,“ We only have 4-5 shows this season. We really have to be deliberate about which particular show to comeback and also because we have so many pieces. So at the moment Ballet Philippines has a repertoire of about 500. It’s hard to prioritize which piece to do. In the history there is so many interesting pieces. With Firebird, internationally they did it 2011 about 5 years ago. Firebird premiered 1911 and also Stravinsky’s centennial. For this side it’s the spirit of it. You will see it’s like the original where there’s a big emphasis on the design and overall schematic. This is with the purpose of creating exciting work for the audience. On one level there is artistic priorities. The other level is what we think would be interesting production to create. We always discuss the seasons back and forth and many times. There’s a factor of fate on how everything comes together. Napapanahon siya the same with Swan Lake. Swan Lake was the first production I performed in as a dancer for Ballet Philippines. That’s the root of why I’m a dancer and why I’m still here because that first production we had with Mia Barredo and Morishita with Nonoy Froilan for me that’s a life changing experience. As director I wish we could also achieve the same for the audience. So we can have more people supporting the ballet.”

BP President Margie Moran adds, “Margie: We make sure that what we choose is palatable to the audience. Its something that will excite the audience to come and watch the show. We have a very good pool of dancers and we want to put them in a position to where they can really excel and go to the next level as dancers. Although every year we lose talent most of whom go abroad. But we have young ones that come up in the ladder. We’re also excited we have very good dancers. We want to bring out the best in them. The past years we’ve been successful. We’ve done very well in showcasing our best masterpieces. It has given us financial rewards we are able to produce better shows and train our dancers well.”

from left: Victor Maguad and Cyril Fallar are both in the role of Koschei the Immortal. Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

While FIREBIRD is the first show of the season BP’s Principal Soloist Cyril Aran Fallar announced this will be his last for the company. He thanked Morales for his long term support and mentoring and thanked Birkadze for entrusting the role of Koschei The Immortal to him.

from right: Cyril Fallar (Koschei) and Jemima Reyes (Firebird); Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

ROLES:

Firebird: Rita Angel Winder, Jemima Reyes

Pearl Merchant: Jean Marc Cordero, Garry Corpuz

Spice Princess: Denise Parungao, Monica Gana

Koschei the Immortal: Cyril Fallar, Victor Maguad

from left: Denise Parungao (Spice Princess) and Rita Angela Winder (Firebird). Catch BP’s FIREBIRD AND OTHER BALLETS at the CCP Main Theater from Aug 19-21, 2016. Photo by Jude Bautista

Jude Thaddeus Bautista

I'm a professional writer and photographer for over a decade. The subjects that I cover vary from entertainment to film, music, travel, lifestyle and even sports. Stories and pictures can come from anywhere, this is my way of sharing them with you.

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[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

[…] for granted, not just by the youth but Filipinos in general. That’s why yearly events such as the PASINAYA where these activities come together are so important. Include Cinemalaya, Cinema One, Virgin […]

Our Lost Culture in 3 Stars And A Sun | Text and Photos by Jude Bautista